EUDAPA - European University Diploma in Adapted Physical Activity

• Leadership in the Field: Our program is at the forefront of APA education in Europe, ensuring you receive the most current and relevant knowledge.
• Networking: Connect with fellow students and professionals from various backgrounds, creating a robust network that will support you throughout your career.
• Career Opportunities: APA professionals are in high demand worldwide. With our diploma, you'll be well-prepared for a fulfilling career making a positive impact.
• Empowerment: Learn how to empower individuals with disabilities through physical activity, making a difference in their lives and the community at large.

EUDAPA is tailored to meet the ever-evolving demands of the working world. We believe in a holistic approach to education, offering a program that combines theory and practice to prepare you for any challenge in the APA field. Our three main program features ensure you're well-prepared:

• Expert Guidance: Learn from leading APA experts in Europe and Finland through theoretical and practical lectures. Your knowledge will be enriched by those who have paved the way in this field.
• Exploration: Gain insights into Finnish institutions related to APA with organized visits. These experiences broaden your perspective and allow you to see the practical applications of your studies.
• Hands-On Learning: Embrace John Dewey's philosophy of "Learning by Doing" by taking charge of practical projects. You'll organize and execute projects, honing your skills in a real-world context.

Your EUDAPA adventure begins at your own home university. By completing 10 ECTS credits in the field of Adapted Physical Activity (APA), you not only meet one of the program's prerequisites but also prepare yourself for the intensive EUDAPA experience ahead. It's the first step towards a brighter future in the world of APA.

Embark on a transformative 3-month journey at the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in beautiful Finland. Here, you'll delve deep into the heart of Adapted Physical Activity through our immersive EUDAPA program. With 30 ECTS credits on offer, you'll gain expertise in three essential areas: Adapted Physical Activity (10 ECTS), Adapted Physical Activity in Rehabilitation (10 ECTS), and Adapted Physical Activity in Sports and Recreation (10 ECTS). You'll be guided by leading APA experts, both from Europe and Finland, ensuring you receive top-notch education.

After completing the intensive program, it's time to put your newfound skills to the test. Secure a work placement that aligns with your career goals, with our support and guidance. By accumulating 20 ECTS credits in the field of APA during your placement, you'll not only gain practical experience but also demonstrate your commitment to making a difference in the world of Adapted Physical Activity.

We understand that each student has unique aspirations. If you're not seeking the full diploma (60 ECTS), you have the option to complete 5 ECTS credits in Step 1 and 30 ECTS credits in Step 2. 

Learning objectives

After having completed this course of attained an equivalent competence level, the student: 

• Understands the concept of inclusion in different situations. 
• Understands the principles of adapted physical activity in kindergarten and schools. 
• Has developed understanding about motor learning and developmental delays. 
• Knows ways to measure physical fitness in children and youth with special needs and can choose appropriate measurements.

Grade 1: The student knows the concept of inclusion and the principles of APA in children and youth. The student can plan, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based session with assistance. The student aims to work collaboratively.

Grade 3: The student can plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based inclusion actively in practical situations with good knowledge. The interaction of the student motivates and encourages the participants. 
The student understands the principles of APA in children and youth and can plan goal-oriented actions taking care of individual needs.

Grade 5: The student can plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based inclusion independently in practical situations with excellent knowledge. The students can consider all the participants and their individual needs. The interaction of the student is appropriate, natural and involves all the participants in the communication process. The student innovates new ideas and can adapt his/her actions to the needs of the person or organization. She/he critically analyzes and justifies the means, methods, and effectiveness of the training.

Learning objectives

After having completed this course of attained an equivalent competence level, the student: 

• Understands the connection between physical activity and rehabilitation.
• Knows how to co-operate with different experts. 
• Gets to know different kinds of methods in adapted physical activity and learns how to adapt physical activity in different surroundings.
• Has ability to adapt physical activity individually for people with different diagnoses, abilities, and ages. 

Grade 1: The student knows the principles of adapted physical activity in rehabilitation. The student recognizes the most common disabilities and chronical diseases as well as the significance of physical activities in relation to these. The student can plan, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based session with assistance. The student aims to work collaboratively.

Grade 3: The student shows good knowledge in the field of adapted physical activity in rehabilitation. The student can plan goal-oriented sessions taking care of individual needs. The interaction of the student motivates and encourages the participants. The student shows some co-operation with other professionals.

Grade 5: The student shows excellent knowledge in the field of adapted physical activity in rehabilitation. The student can plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based practical situations independently, 
considering all the participants. The student innovates new ideas and can adapt his/her functions to the needs of the person or organization. 
She/he critically analyzes and justifies the means, methods, and effectiveness of the practical situations. The student works with other experts fluently and can reflect his/her work and develop actions based on reflection.

Learning objectives

After having completed this course of attained an equivalent competence level, the student:

• Understands the special needs in coaching para-athletes. 
• Understands the meaning of collaboration between specialists. 
• Knows the principles of classification. 
• Is able to plan environments with accessibility and knows the principles of using different kinds of equipment for adapted physical activity. 
• Is able to plan recreational projects with accessibility.

Grade 1: The student knows the principles of para-sports and understands the meaning of collaboration between specialists. The student knows the concept of the accessibility and knows what kind of equipment there is for adapted physical activity. The student can, with assistance, make a goal-oriented coaching plan for para-athlete or plan a recreational project with accessibility based on theory.

Grade 3: The student shows a good knowledge in the principles of para-sports and in collaboration between specialists. The student shows good knowledge in the concept of accessibility and is able to adapt it into practice. Student can independently find good assistant equipment by involving clients.  The student can independently make a goal-oriented coaching plan for a para-athlete or plan a recreational project with accessibility based on theory and good practices. The student shows some co-operation with other specialists.

Grade 5: The student shows excellent knowledge in the principles of para-sports and in collaboration between specialists. The student shows excellent knowledge in the concept of the accessibility and is able to adapt it into practice. Student can independently find good assistant equipment and innovate new ones, also by involving clients. The student can independently make a goal-oriented and innovative coaching plan for a para-athlete or plan a recreational project with accessibility based on theory and good practices. She/he critically analyzes and justifies the means and methods. The student works with other specialists fluently and can reflect his/her work and develop actions based on reflection.

In this option you will take part all of the 10ECTS courses (30ECTS in total). It contains contact teaching in Vierumäki during 29.1.-26.4.2024. The lessons will take place from Monday to Thursday. Friday is usually independent studying. The studies include one week trip to Lapland. Read the information for the EUDAPA international students. All the same information applies for you in this option.

Afterwards, you can apply the EUDAPA diploma (10ECTS pre-studies in the field of APA and 20ECTS practical work placement in the field of APA after the 30 ECTS module). 

In this option you can choose either one or two 10ECTS courses. You will study mainly independently in Moodle -platform, but studies also include some practical projects on campus or outside the campus.

Depending on your course selection, compulsory intensive study days on campus are:

Adapted Physical Education 10ECTS: week 7 two days, week 8 two days

Adapted Physical Activity in Rehabilitation 10ECTS: week 12 four days

Adapted Physical Activity in Sports and Recreation 10ECTS: week 15 three days

(The exact weeks and dates will be informed at the end of the year 2023.)

Participation requires basic knowledge of Adapted Physical Activity. The knowledge can include for example studies or experience of working in the field of sports and / or healthcare. If needed, contact the program manager to get more knowledge of prior requirements.

Register as an Open University of Applied Sciences student. More information and registration fees: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/open-university-applied-sciences

Additional costs
Take notice, that if you take part to the whole intensive period in Vierumäki, you’ll have extra costs from Lapland trip and educational trips. 
If you are interested living in Vierumäki during the studies (3 months intensive studies), you can apply for accommodation for students. You’ll find the link from the website.

For more specific information, contact EUDAPA manager [email protected].  

Do you want to know what it's like to ski on monoski or organise activities for people in prison? Are you interested in how to prepare physical activities with the elderly people? Do you want to learn new information from the field of physical activities abroad? Then the European University Diploma in Adapted Physical Activities (EUDAPA) is definetly something for you! If you are hesitating to apply for Erasmus or do not know what to expect from the program ... hesitate no more. We, students from EUDAPA 2023, bring you comprehensive information that is useful for those interested in the field of adapted physical activities or considering a trip abroad.

So what is it all about? The European University Diploma of Adapted Physical Activity is a unique project implemented within the Erasmus+ program at the University of Haaga-Helia in Finland. This three-month exchange at the Vierumäki Sports Institute will not only learn you new information in the field of adapted physical activities. You will also be able to try out many different activities on their own skin. Now, what are they and how does it work?

The whole program lasts 12 weeks, each week having its own specific focus. The first week begins with introductory activities to get to know the other members of the group. The following days are devoted to general information about the program, exams and, last but not least, the practical experience of living in Finland. This year, the first week also included a trip to Lahti, a city near the aforementioned Vierumäki. There we had the opportunity to see the city centre, the harbour and the famous ski jumps, where important ski jumping competitions take place. In the following weeks we had lessons with experts. These consist of theoretical sessions in which experts provide both basic and in-depth information on specific areas of adapted physical activities. These lessons are complemented by practical sessions where we can try out the newly acquired knowledge directly on our own skin. For example, we have tried to play sitting volleyball, adapted curling, adapted cross-country skiing, parahockey and many other sports. The sessions take place in the premises of the Sports Institute, which offer ideal conditions for the implementation of various sports activities.

Teaching at EUDAPA is by far not all you can look forward to. The programme also includes 4 projects, including a goalball tournament, a trip to Finnish Lapland, a project in a prison and a camp for elderly people. Students choose which project they want to lead and then implement it themselves in groups. The group's task is to put together a program for a given group of people, introduce it to their classmates and then divide up the functions so that everything goes as it should. This is followed by feedback and suggestions for improvement for next time.

However, the projects do not end with the practical side of this exchange . Over the course of the three months, you can also get an insight into EUDAPA's support system for sports for disabled people in Finland, for example by visiting the Paralympic Committee in Helsinki and Paralympic Training Centre in Pajulahti. You will also get to acquaint yourself with the education system during the lessons we have organised for children with autism as part of the programme.

What can we say in conclusion? Perhaps only that the EUDAPA programme is open to all without distinction. There is no lack of new knowledge and experiences if you know little about adapted physical activities or if you are no longer a beginner in this field. In short, if you are just a little bit interested in studying abroad and are not afraid of new challenges, do not hesitate to join EUDAPA, it is worth it!